Hamfast was born in 2926, the third son of [[Hobson|Hobson Gamgee]], who was a roper by trade. His mother's name is not known.<ref name="Gamgee">{{App|Gamgee}}</ref>

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Hamfast was born in 2926, the third son of [[Hobson|Hobson Gamgee]], who was a roper by trade.<ref name="Gamgee">{{App|Gamgee}}</ref>

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He entered the service of his uncle, [[Holman Greenhand]], and became a gardener. One of his first jobs was tending the garden of [[Bag End]]. On [[June 22]], [[Third Age 2942|T.A. 2942]], he and Holman tried frantically to keep the garden in order during the auction of the presumed-dead [[Bilbo Baggins]].<ref name="Party"/> It is likely that at this time he already lived at Number 3, [[Bagshot Row]].

+

He entered the service of his relative, [[Holman Greenhand]], and became a gardener. One of his first jobs was tending the garden of [[Bag End]]. On [[22 June]], {{TA|2942}}, he and Holman tried frantically to keep the garden in order during the auction of the presumed-dead [[Bilbo Baggins]].<ref name="Party"/> It is likely that at this time he already lived at Number 3, [[Bagshot Row]].

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Hamfast became a gardener in his own right, and a local expert on [[potatoes]].<ref name="Party"/> He married [[Bell Gamgee|Bell Goodchild]], and they had six children: [[Hamson Gamgee|Hamson]], [[Daisy Gamgee|Daisy]], [[May Gamgee|May]], Samwise and [[Marigold Gamgee|Marigold]].<ref name="Gamgee"/> Sam became Hamfast's apprentice.

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Hamfast became a gardener in his own right in about {{TA|2960}}<ref>[[Robert Foster]], ''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth]]'', p. 187</ref>, and a local expert on [[potatoes]].<ref name="Party"/> He married [[Bell Gamgee|Bell Goodchild]], and they had six children: [[Hamson Gamgee|Hamson]], [[Halfred Gamgee|Halfred]], [[Daisy Gamgee|Daisy]], [[May Gamgee|May]], Samwise and [[Marigold Gamgee|Marigold]].<ref name="Gamgee"/> Sam became Hamfast's apprentice.

Sam took over most of his father's work, who had become too old for the laborous work. He became known as the "Gaffer", a name Sam uses more often than "Hamfast".

Sam took over most of his father's work, who had become too old for the laborous work. He became known as the "Gaffer", a name Sam uses more often than "Hamfast".

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In the wake of the [[Bilbo's Farewell Party|Farewell Party]], the Gaffer entertained a crowd at the [[Ivy Bush]]. Always a man of knowledge, he argued with [[Sandyman]], [[Old Noakes]] and [[Daddy Twofoot]] about the [[Baggins Family|Bagginses]] and the [[Sackville-Baggins Family|Sackville-Bagginses]].<ref name="Party"/>

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In the wake of the [[Bilbo's Farewell Party|Farewell Party]], the Gaffer entertained a crowd at the [[Ivy Bush]]. Always a man of loquacity and knowledge, he argued with [[Sandyman]], [[Old Noakes]] and [[Daddy Twofoot]] about the [[Baggins Family|Bagginses]] and the [[Sackville-Baggins Family|Sackville-Bagginses]].<ref name="Party"/>

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On [[September 22]], [[Third Age 3018|T.A. 3018]], the night of the departure of [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and Sam from the Shire, [[Khamûl]], one of the [[Nazgûl]] rode up the lane, and asked the elderly hobbit about "[[Baggins Family|Baggins]]". A week later, he was visited by [[Gandalf]] who also informed about Frodo's whereabouts.<ref>{{FR|Meetings}}</ref>

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On [[22 September]], {{TA|3018}}, the night of the departure of [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and Sam from the Shire, [[Khamûl]], one of the [[Nazgûl]] rode up the lane, and asked the elderly hobbit about "[[Baggins Family|Baggins]]". A week later, he was visited by [[Gandalf]] who also informed about Frodo's whereabouts.<ref>{{FR|Meetings}}</ref>

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When [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins|Lotho]] and eventually [[Sharkey]] took over the Shire, the Gaffer was evicted from Bagshot Row.<ref>{{RK|Scouring}}</ref> After the [[Battle of Bywater]], in which he only had a marginal role, he moved back into the newly restored [[New Row]], while Sam moved into Bag End. He was looked after by the [[Widow Rumble]], and died in Fourth Age 7.<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref>

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When [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins|Lotho]] and eventually [[Sharkey]] took over the Shire, the Gaffer was evicted from Bagshot Row.<ref>{{RK|Scouring}}</ref> After the [[Battle of Bywater]], in which he only had a marginal role, he moved back into the newly restored [[New Row]], while Sam moved into Bag End. He was looked after by the [[Widow Rumble]], and died in Fourth Age 7.<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref>

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

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'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)]]'':'''

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)]]'':'''

:Gaffer appears twice; at first, he drinks at the Green Dragon, but during the night, he informs Frodo of the Ringwraith that stalks the Shire. He was voiced by an uncredited [[Jim Piddock]].

:Gaffer appears twice; at first, he drinks at the Green Dragon, but during the night, he informs Frodo of the Ringwraith that stalks the Shire. He was voiced by an uncredited [[Jim Piddock]].

Contents

History

Hamfast was born in 2926, the third son of Hobson Gamgee, who was a roper by trade.[2]

He entered the service of his relative, Holman Greenhand, and became a gardener. One of his first jobs was tending the garden of Bag End. On 22 June, T.A.2942, he and Holman tried frantically to keep the garden in order during the auction of the presumed-dead Bilbo Baggins.[1] It is likely that at this time he already lived at Number 3, Bagshot Row.

When Lotho and eventually Sharkey took over the Shire, the Gaffer was evicted from Bagshot Row.[5] After the Battle of Bywater, in which he only had a marginal role, he moved back into the newly restored New Row, while Sam moved into Bag End. He was looked after by the Widow Rumble, and died in Fourth Age 7.[6]

Inspiration

In Letter 257, J.R.R. Tolkien recounts a holiday to Lamorna Cave in the early 1930's. To amuse his sons, he named a local Gaffer Gamgee. This "curious local character" was "an old man who used to go about swapping gossip and weather-fashion and such like". The surname was chosen because it alliterated with Gaffer.

Tolkien had several encounters with actual Gamgees, however. Gamgee Tissue, a word young Ronald considered comical, was named after J. Sampson Gamgee (1828-1886), a famous Birmingham surgeon.[10] The Gamgees were notorious surgeons - years later, Dr. Leonard Gamgee tended those war-wounded, including Lieutenant Tolkien.[source?]